Ants are pesky little critters that can invade your home and make you want to scream. They’re not dangerous, but they can make life very uncomfortable as they roam around your kitchen and invade every corner of your house.
Because there are so many different types of ants, it’s important that you know how to get rid of them before they start multiplying.
| Takeaways |
|---|
| Getting rid of sugar ants can be challenging, but proper prevention and elimination methods can make it possible. |
| Keeping a clean kitchen and sealing sweet food containers can help prevent sugar ant infestations. |
| Using natural remedies like essential oils, vinegar, and boric acid can be effective in getting rid of sugar ants. |
| If home remedies fail, professional pest control services can help eliminate sugar ant infestations effectively. |
1. Ant Baits
Ant baits are the easiest way to get rid of ants. Ants love sweet substances, so bait is a sweet substance that attracts them and once the ants eat it, they carry it back to their nest and share it with their colony.
The poison in the bait kills off all of the ants in the colony. You can buy ant baits at a hardware store, or you can make your own by mixing sugar and borax or honey with water (just follow the directions on how much water to use).
You might have heard that borax has been linked to health issues such as kidney failure when ingested by humans but there’s no scientific evidence showing any link between borax and these side effects when used properly in small quantities (like when using an ant bait).
Ant infestation can be a nuisance, but getting rid of them doesn’t have to be. Our simple guide gives you effective tips to get rid of ants and keep them out of your home for good
2. Vinegar
Vinegar is a natural ant killer that works by breaking down the chemical structure of an ant’s exoskeleton. It’s also an acid, which can irritate an ant’s skin and make them uncomfortable to stay in your house.
You may also notice small brown spots on your floors and countertops from where ants have been killed by vinegar. To get rid of ants using vinegar:
- Spray equal amounts of vinegar and water into the colony area, focusing on cracks and crevices where you see ants crawling around or getting into your home.
- If you see dead or dying ants around the outside perimeter of your home (or inside), mix 1 cup each water, dish soap and white vinegar in a spray bottle; then spray directly onto those areas until they are soaked but not dripping wet with liquid.*
3. Boiling Water
Another way to get rid of ants is by boiling water. Boiling water can kill ants and the eggs that they lay, but it doesn’t do much for the nest itself. So, this method works best if you have fewer than five or so ant hills in your home.
This method is also great because it’s not harmful to you or any other people or pets who may be in contact with the boiling water.
To begin, place a pot on your stove with about 1/2 inch of water in it and bring it to a boil over medium heat (between high and medium).
Once boiling, add some sugar until there are around 2 tablespoons dissolved into the pot’s contents—the idea here is that we don’t want too much sugar syrup mixed up with our boiling water; otherwise we risk burning ourselves when removing this mixture later on!
Now comes arguably the hardest part: removing every single ant hill from every single room as quickly as possible so that these insects don’t have time enough before they’re dead
Do sugar ants keep invading your space? Our pro tips can help you solve your ant problem! Implement these methods to get rid of sugar ants and prevent them from coming back.
4. Dry Pepper
Pepper is a good repellent for ants. It won’t kill them, but it will keep them away for a while. You can sprinkle pepper on the ground and around your house to keep ants away. You can also mix pepper with other ingredients to make a spray that will keep ants away from your house.
5. Dish Soap and Water
You can use dish soap and water to get rid of the ants.
Mix 2 tbsp of dish soap with 1 cup of warm water in a small bowl or cup. Mix well until it creates a gel-like consistency.
Scoop out bits of this mixture with your finger and drop it onto the sugar in several locations around your home where you see ants crawling up, down and side to side on walls and floors.
The ants will eat the sugar immediately, but they won’t like what’s inside: the dish soap! As soon as they ingest this solution, they’ll start going into spasms before dying right away.
The whole colony won’t be exterminated at once, but this method will help deter them from coming back because they’ll know there are deadly chemicals in that area now!
| Ingredients | Directions |
|---|---|
| Dish soap | Mix 1 teaspoon of dish soap with 1 quart of water. |
| Water | Put the mixture in a spray bottle and spray it on the ants and their trails. |
6. Lemon Juice and Salt Solution
Mix equal parts of lemon juice and salt in a bowl. Pour the mixture into an ant trail. The ants will carry it back to their nest where it will kill them.
7. Whole Cloves
Whole cloves can also be used to get rid of ants from sugar. Place them in a bowl of water, and the clove scent will repel the ants.
Cloves are also a good way to keep ants away from your kitchen or other areas around the house where they might be an issue.
This method is best for small infestations and isn’t effective at the ant colony’s source, but it works well if you have only a few ants in your home or office space! Remember: if you’re trying a new method for getting rid of ants, remember that it may take several days before you see results (or longer).
Worried about ants in your kitchen overnight? Don’t stress, our guide on how to get rid of ants overnight has got you covered! Follow these actionable tips to wake up to an ant-free home.
8. Boric Acid and Sugar
As previously mentioned, Boric Acid is a natural mineral that works to kill ants. It’s also non-toxic to humans and pets.
Boric acid is one of the easiest ways you can get rid of ants naturally without using harsh chemicals like pesticides or insecticides that can harm your pets and children.
You can find boric acid in most grocery stores in the cleaning section and it comes in powder form. The best way to use it is by mixing it with sugar and spread it all over areas where you see ants coming out of their nest (in walls or under your house).
9. Borax and Sugar
You can use borax to get rid of ants from sugar. Borax is a natural insecticide that comes in powder form and can be found in the laundry section of most grocery stores. It’s safe for people and pets and won’t harm anything if it gets on your skin or clothing.
Borax is known for having a sweet taste, so it may attract ants to eat it. Once they do, they’ll die from dehydration within hours!
Keeping ants away may seem like a daunting task, but it’s possible with some simple methods. Our guide on how to keep ants away offers strategies to keep ants out of your home and keep your space clean and hygienic
10. Sprinkle Peppermint Around The House
Instead of using pesticides and other harsh chemicals, you can use peppermint oil to repel ants. Peppermint oil is a natural insect repellent that’s safe for use around children and pets. Once the ants are gone, you can still keep it around to repel other pests and insects.
Peppermint oil is a great option if you want an alternative to toxic pesticides while also keeping your home smelling fresh. You can use it in the garden or kitchen, on surfaces or as a diffuser throughout your house.
11. Sprinkle Bay Leaves
Sprinkle bay leaves around your house to help keep ants away. Bay leaves are a natural ant repellent and also act as a natural antiseptic, which will help to keep the infestation at bay.
Permanently getting rid of ants may seem impossible, but with the right approach, it’s achievable. Check out our guide on how to get rid of ants permanently to see how to identify and eliminate the source of your ant problem.
Conclusion
With this blog post, we’ve shown you how to get rid of ants from sugar. We hope that you were able to learn something new today and that you’ll now be more informed on how to handle any future ant problems in your home.
Further Reading
Here are some helpful resources for more information on how to get rid of sugar ants:
Sentinel Pest Control’s guide: Learn how to identify and eliminate sugar ants with tips from this pest control company.
Purcor Pest Control’s blog post: Discover natural ways to get rid of sugar ants with this detailed blog post.
The Rakyat Post’s article: Prevent sugar ants from getting into your sugar jar with these seven tips.
FAQs
How can I identify sugar ants?
Sugar ants are typically small and light brown in color. They are attracted to sweets and sugars and can often be found in the kitchen.
What causes sugar ants to come indoors?
Sugar ants are attracted to sweet and sugary foods, so any open containers or sugar spills in the kitchen can cause them to come indoors.
What are some natural ways to get rid of sugar ants?
Some natural ways to get rid of sugar ants include using essential oils like peppermint or lemon, vinegar, or boric acid.
How do I prevent sugar ants from getting into my home?
Prevent sugar ants from getting into your home by keeping your kitchen clean and free of spills, sealing food containers tightly, and storing sweet foods in airtight containers.
When should I call a professional pest control service for sugar ants?
If you have tried multiple home remedies and still have a sugar ant infestation, it may be time to call a professional pest control service to effectively eliminate the problem.
Hello! I’m Hellen James, and I write about how to keep pests from invading your home. For the last 10 years, I’ve been working in pest control and am excited to share my expertise with you!
